SSS Arrests High Profile Boko Haram Members In Ekiti, Bauchi And Kano

The Department of State Services has announced the arrest of 35 high-profile criminals by its officers. The arrests were made during recent operations targeted at depleting the activities of brigands in various parts of the country. The wave of arrests was announced in a statement signed by Mr. Tony Opuiyo on behalf of the DSS, which said the successes recorded were made possible by members of the public.

On 20 March, a joint operation by the military and DSS ended in the arrest of one Adenoyi Abduslam, a Boko Haram kingpin, in Ado-Ekiti. Abdusalam, who is currently being investigated, was caught with an AK-47 while putting final touches to arrangements for the kidnap of high-level targets in Ekiti. Before his arrest, many suspected Boko Haram terrorists had been nabbed in Bauchi, Yobe, Gombe, Nasarawa, Kaduna and Kogi states among others.

In Lafia, Nasarawa State, the DSS nabbed 29-year old Usman Ladan Rawa (a.k.a Mr. X), a Boko Haram member, on 17 March. Rawa was found to have rented an apartment for notorious terrorist Abdullahi Isa, with a view to establishing a base for terrorism, kidnapping and robbery around Abuja, Minna and adjoining communities. On 15 March, one Nasiru Sani (aka Osama), a top Boko Haram commander who escaped from prison in 2010, was arrested in Bauchi. The same day, Adamu Jibrin, who operated with the pseudonym Dantata Sule was nabbedat Jeka-da-Fari Market, Gombe State. Jibrin was said to have operated as a middleman for Boko Haram members and their commanders, especially the one simply identified as Kanumbu. The suspect was said to have admitted his membership of the sect.

Between 1 and 2 March, at Ngalda in Fika Local Government Area of Yobe State and Nagazi in Adavi Local Government Area of Kogi State, the DSS rounded up Abdulazeez Umaru and Nuhu Usman aka Okadigbo respectively. Umaru, who confessed his membership of Boko Haram, was arrested with the assistance of a local vigilante group. Preliminary investigations, according to the statement, revealed Usman’s participation many attacks in Kogi State.

On 2 February, the DSS said it arrested one Suleiman Yahaya, who had been on the wanted list of security agencies. Yahaya was arrested during a raid in Potiskum Local Government Area of Yobe State for participation in a string of terrorist attacks around Borno and Yobe states. Five days later in Kumbotso Local Government Area of Kano State, officers of the service picked up Mohammed Isyaka (aka Maikwano) for his complicity in Boko Haram attacks in the North East. On 9 February, at Ayingba in Kogi State, the trio of Uwais Abubakar, Abdullahi Umaru and Mukhtar Suleman, all Boko Haram terrorists, were arrested by the DSS tactical team. According to the statement, the suspects were actively involved in series of attacks on select targets, including Federal Polytechnic, Idah; Kogi State University and the newly constructed Kogi State Revenue House, Lokoja.

Ali Bukar and Mustapha Umar were equally arrested on 17 March in Kano. One Abdullahi Isah, an indigene of Isari in Yobe State, was arrested in Lafia for gun-running to raise funds for Boko Haram operations.  Eleven days later, the DSS nabbed a Boko Haram commander and food supplier, Ibrahim Fulata and his associates, Shamsudeen Aliyu, Zaharadeen Ibrahim and Suleiman Abubakar at Zaria Clinic, Dustsen Tanshi area of Bauchi.

In Nasarawa, Kaduna State, Ibrahim Sule and Bello Shehu, suspected abductors of two German nationals Dr. Peter Breuning and Johannes Brehinger, were arrested.

In Umuahia, Abia State on 9 February, two suspected kidnappers, Tochukwu Prince Johnson and Madubuike Christopher Iromaka were arrested for allegedly threatening to abduct two businessmen. Also on 12 February, Saidu Musa, described as a notorious bandit, was busted in Makarfi Local Government Area of Kaduna State. He was found in possession of a pump action gun and 23 cartridges kept in his car.

Yet another suspected kidnapper, Ashiru Abubakar, was picked up at Maraban Jos Junction in Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State. The DSS described him as a member of the gang that abducted 11 travelers along Kaduna-Abuja Road. The DSS also busted kidnappers in Kaduna, Kogi, and Plateau states. They included Bingel Mohammed, Kabiru Lawal, Dahiru Lawal and Shagari Usman.

On February 24, at Bosso Local Government Area of Niger State, the DSS picked up Abubakar Mohammed aka Baba Dogo, who is identified as a notorious kidnapper/cattle rustler. The same day in Ankpa Kogi State, suspected kidnapper, Mallam Idris Baba, 30, was shot dead while trying to evade arrest.

In Wudil Local Government Area of Kano State, the DSS said it arrested Ahmed Muhammed, a high- profile Boko Haram terrorist, who kept custody of persons abducted by sect members. One Yusuf Hayatudeen, the service disclosed, was arrested for terrorism at Oziokutu Adavi Local Government Area of Kogi State for the threat to bomb a radio station in nearby Okene.